The Vancouver Whitecaps (0W-0L-2D) look to keep their Voyageurs Cup dream alive Wednesday night when they kick off against rivals the Montreal Impact (0W-2L-1D) at Stade Saputo in Montreal.
The Whitecaps ride into Montreal embarking on a three-game road trip after completing a five-match home stand.
The Caps need all three points in the Nutrilite matchup to draw within striking distance of Toronto FC who lead the tournament.
"It's going to be a tough test," Vancouver captain Martin Nash to WhitecapsFC.com. "We've got to get our minds right because it's a huge game and we need to win it.
Vancouver has only one win in seven visits to Montreal in club history. The Caps stole a 2-0 victory in the 2009 Nutrilite Canadian Championship and they hope to experience some déjà vu in Quebec.
Toronto FC currently lead the tournament with seven points, with two games remaining. Vancouver must win both to score a chance at the title.
A win in Montreal would draw the Whitecaps within two points of Toronto and set the stage for a thrilling, winner-takes-all, finale between the Toronto and Vancouver at Toronto's BMO Field in Toronto on June 2.
The Impact are already eliminated from the tournament but the Whitecaps' Quebec rivals want to spoil Vancouver chance at a Canadian Championship.
The Whitecaps gained some confidence on the weekend with a 2-0 win over the Rochester Rhinos.
Vancouver struggled to produce goals at Swangard during their home stay, but were finally rewarded Saturday night.
Cornelius Stewart scored his first goal as a Whitecap to break the team's three-game scoring drought 17 minutes into the match. Vancouver played to three 0-0 draws at Swangard Stadium in matches against the Impact, Crystal Palace and Toronto in May.
"It was a fantastic moment for me to get my first goal in the league," Stewart said to reporters after the game. "I am going to keep working because I want to score a lot of goals this season."
Vancouver hopes to take the momentum gained from Saturday's win to Montreal and try to add more confidence and grind out a win.
Kick off is at 5 p.m. PST.
Notes: Defender/ midfielder Blake Wagner is out with a stained foot and Mouloud Akloul continues to recover from a fractured ankle...Goalkeeper Dan Plec remains sidelined with a gluteus maximus injury...Wednesday's matchup is the 50th all-time meeting between the two clubs and the third of six meeting in the 2010 season.
With video files from Whitecapsfc.com
